Chief Palestinian presidential advisor Sahib Oreikat has called off his visit to Moscow for the Mideast Quartet's meeting, the Palestinian media reported on Wednesday.

"The visit has been postponed on account of the deterioration in the situation on the Palestinian territories," Oreikat said.

Oreikat was to bring with him a letter from the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmud Abbas, to Russian officials, explaining the Palestinian position.

The letter was to be considered during the meeting of the Quartet of international mediators in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which will be held in Moscow on Friday.

The Israeli government announced last week plans to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish families in the disputed eastern area of Jerusalem, just as the Middle East peace talks had finally spluttered into life after a 15-month break.

Ramallah threatened to discontinue the peace talks if the settlement building plans are not abandoned. U.S., Russian and European officials have called on Israel to halt the plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Palestinians for the stagnation of the peace efforts after saying earlier that Israel would on no account suspend building in East Jerusalem.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, he called on Palestinians to return to the "tent of peace" without "preliminary conditions," arguing that it was the only way to achieve genuine peace.

GAZA, March 17 (RIA Novosti)